USC’s Tee Martin remains mum on possible return to Tennessee

LOS ANGELES — College football’s annual coaching carousel took one of its wackiest whirls over the weekend.

Tennessee, among six SEC schools to end the regular season with head coaching vacancies, planned to hire Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano, reaching the point where the school on Sunday reportedly signed a memorandum of understanding with Schiano. But the deal fell apart hours later amid social-media backlash and fan outcry.

The failed hire left Tennessee administrators restarting their coaching search, a process that could ultimately impact USC’s coaching staff.

Tee Martin, the Trojans’ offensive coordinator, is expected to be a candidate after Sports Illustrated reported on Monday that Martin had a “legit shot” to be named head coach.

Martin, the quarterback for the Volunteers’ 1998 national championship team, declined to discuss a potential return to his alma mater.

“I just don’t talk about other jobs during the season,” Martin said, speaking with reporters after a practice four days before USC faces Stanford in the Pac-12 Conference championship game.

Asked if he had interviewed for the position, Martin said he had not.

“Stanford is a pretty good team I’m getting ready for right now,” Martin added.

Martin has been a part of the Trojans’ staff since 2012. First hired by Lane Kiffin as a wide receivers coach, Martin was tabbed as the offensive coordinator when Coach Clay Helton was promoted from an interim stint in 2015. Martin is also widely considered USC’s best recruiter.

Tennessee fired Butch Jones earlier this month after he went 34-27 in five seasons.

After his first season at USC, Martin interviewed for a position on Jones’ staff, before remaining with the Trojans.

While Martin remained mum on his future, Helton considered him a strong candidate.

“I know his day is coming to lead a program,” Helton said. “Whoever decides to make him their head coach is going to get […]